by Katrease Stafford and David Jesse, Detroit Free Press

by Katrease Stafford and David Jesse, Detroit Free Press

DETROIT -- The McNamara Terminal at Detroit's Metro Airport was put on security lockdown for at least two hours late Thursday after a man forced his way through a security checkpoint without being screened around 8:45 p.m. EDT, according to officials.

He said the man ignored the instructions of a TSA agent and forced his way back into the terminal. The man was still in custody late Thursday, he said.

The lockdown ended at 11:16 p.m.

Brian Lassaline, airport spokesperson, explained:

"A passenger, who was already on the secured side of the screened checkpoint, exited through the line and made the decision to turn back around and go through the secured side without being screened again."

Feinstein said TSA and law enforcement agencies had "given the all clear.

Passenger Jerry Perez said he was allowed to leave around 10:15 p.m. and that people tried to "bum rush" the gate to exit the airport.

The lockdown threw travelers and those picking them up into turmoil. Earlier, a line of cars outside stretched the length of the terminal and three lanes deep. Baggage from flights from about 8:45 p.m. were still sitting on the baggage carousels. Police were seen standing inside closed doors in front of escalators, leading down to the baggage area.

James Geiger, a pediatric surgeon, said his flight from Phoenix landed at around 8:55 p.m. and everyone was placed under a lockdown shortly after that.

"They lowered the gates where no one could go into the terminal," Geiger said. "It looks like they're not letting any flights board or leave."

Geiger said he saw multiple TSA agents searching the perimeter.

"They looked like they were looking around or looking for someone," he said.

Mary Coleman had already been waiting for more than a half-hour for her nephew to get off his flight from New Orleans.

"He's texting me and saying the concourse is completely shut down in between the gates and the baggage area," Coleman said. "He said they aren't being told what's going on."

On Twitter, dozens of travelers shared their ordeal. Tweeted Michael Siegel: "Looks like TSA is working really hard to find the guy who breached security" -- along with a photo of TSA workers standing at a checkpoint.

Scott Warheit said he was sitting in a car outside of the airport waiting for his parents to exit the building.

"They are in a Delta terminal, caged in and unable to leave or get to baggage claim," Warheit said. "I'm parked outside baggage claim. There's lots of traffic."